7 Reasons to Visit the Philippines

The Philippines is such a mix of things, it’s hard to assign any one adjective to the country. It’s full of the craziest cities I’ve ever visited in Asia, so packed with people it’s hard to comprehend the size. It’s home to miles-long stretches of utterly deserted beaches, where only the palm trees keep you company. It boasts dozens of volcanoes, striking mountains, stunning waterfalls, and encounters with all kinds of wildlife. If the 7,107 islands of the Philippines haven’t made it onto your vacation wish-list yet, you better take a second look. Here’s why.

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7 Reasons to Visit the Philippines

The incredible rice terraces in Luzon

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that this island nation is all beaches and lagoons. There are incredible mountain regions throughout the islands. Northern Luzon boasts a UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Rice Terraces of Batad and Banaue. The terraced cliffs surrounding the towns will stagger the imagination, the traditional tribespeople are welcoming and friendly (and happily accept tips for photos), and the trekking is world-class. For a challenge, try to find your way to the Tappiyah Waterfall on your own. Figuring out the narrow pathway between flooded rice paddies makes for an exciting morning.

Rice Drying in Batad, Ifugao

Volcano adventures

The Philippines is home to dozens of volcanoes, some that are still very much active. When it’s peaceful, you can attempt to summit moody Mount Mayon in Bicol, but a guide is required and tourists have died from unexpected mini-eruptions in the past. For more options (and a little bit safer ones), you can make your way to low-tourist Camiguin, in Northern Mindanao. This island boasts more volcanoes per square kilometer than any other island on earth, according to Lonely Planet. Hikers can climb the mountains one day, then soothe sore muscles in the many natural hot springs in the area the next.

Mount Hibok Hibok, an active volcano on Camiguin Island

Swimming with Whale Sharks

Swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines

It tops many a bucket list, and it’s an experience unlike any other. The most popular place to swim with whale sharks in the Philippines is in Donsol, in the south of Luzon island. Reports say that sightings are becoming more infrequent in this region as the climate and changes. Oslob, on the island of Cebu, has been promoting swims with these large and beautiful sharks, and sightings are all but guaranteed. They have come under fire for disrupting natural feeding habits by feeding the sharks themselves, a no-no to animal-rights groups.

The wonderful, kind people

I have never come across a more polite and respectful group of people than the Filipinos. Everywhere I went, I was called “ma’am.” Locals were always eager to have a conversation with a foreigner simply to have a conversation. After several months of traveling always on the lookout for scams, it was refreshing. Anytime I needed help (and many times I didn’t), a local would go out of his or her way to help me. I had a long conversation with 15-year-old Esther in Batad about televangelist preachers. I was kept company by 19-year-old Vitex on the bus from Cebu City to Oslob, where he not only played tour guide but also recommended and excellent hostel and bought me a bag of chicharones, unasked. Any time I needed directions to an ATM or jeepney station, I was helped without hesitation.

The best beaches on the planet

It’s like something from a brochure: long stretches of white sand, unbelievably vivid turquoise water, palm trees swaying in a the light breeze, sailboats skimming over the flat sea… you’ll think you’ve died and gone to a beach heaven. From Boracay to Puerto Galera to the deserted sands of Palawan, there’s a beach for everyone somewhere in the 7,000+ islands of the Philippines. Remote and rustic Nacpan Beach outside of El Nido recently beat out luxe resort islands like Mykonos and the British Virgin Islands in CNN Travel’s Reader’s Choice for Best Beach in the World. Now that’s saying something!

Nacpan Beach, El Nido. Completely Empty!

One word: Palawan

The Big Lagoon in El Nido, Palawan

The Westernmost island in the Philippines, Palawan has been coming up big as a tourist destination in past 10 years. Perhaps that’s because Palawan has a little bit of everything: Geological adventures exploring the massive underground river in Sabang, budget-friendly lazy beach towns in Port Barton and San Vicente, and the unreal lagoons and reefs in El Nido and Coron. It’s a dive-lovers’ paradise, a beach-lover’s paradise, a kayak-lover’s paradise, a sunset-lover’s paradise… should we just call it all-around paradise? You could easily spend over two weeks just exploring the wonders of this island, let alone the other 7,106!

You’ll feel like a true traveler

Many people on the backpacker trail stick to mainland Southeast Asia, following the well-trodden paths of millions of solo travelers before them. Being surrounded by so many other travelers creates a sense of security, but it can also make you feel like one of the pack. When you arrive to the Philippines, that sense of security is ripped away. It’s not that there are less travelers, there are just so many more Filipinos! So you may find yourself in a packed bus station, the only person with light hair and eyes, standing head and shoulders over everyone else while curious locals check you out from the corner of their eyes. You may find out (the hard way, as I did) that functioning ATMs are a rarity outside of the biggest cities, and it may send you on an hours-long motorbike and jeepney quest for cash. You will find many people gasp when you admit that, yes, you are alone. But there’s something about missing that security of hordes of other Western travelers that makes you feel as if you are finally forging yourself as a bona-fide traveler, and not just a tourist.

2 Comments

Hi Jenn,
I found your piece on the Philippines while doing research for a work/fun trip. I'm leaving Thursday for 30 days and would love to chat with you regarding your experience. The travel warnings about terrorism worry me a bit as I'll be on Mindanao, albeit in Davao City.
Thanks for the great post!
Brian

Hi Brian! Thanks for stopping by, and I'm so jealous about your upcoming trip! 30 days is a great amount of time to spend in the Philippines. I'm not an expert on the Mindanao region, but a fellow blogger wrote an article specifically about safety in the region, which you can find here: http://www.bemytravelmuse.com/is-mindanao-safe/
Be sure to also scroll through the comments, as a few of her readers weighed in and gave more detail on different places in the region. Hopefully this helps you figure out your travels a little bit.
Thanks again for reading and commenting, and I hope you have a fantastic time in the Philippines! Cheers!

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Hi! I'm Jenn

I love to explore the flavors of the world and find creative ways to bring them to life in my own kitchen. I want to do more than show you the world, I want you to taste it! So follow along for awesome world travels, yummy food suggestions from far-off lands, recipes to recreate these exotic flavors on your own, and lots (and lots) of wine. Cheers!